Prosecutors said Allen — wearing a stocking and a bandana on his head — entered the Tobacco Express in the 3800 block of 34th Street, pointed a gun at the clerk and demanded money. After she gave him the money, Allen forced her into a back room and sexually assaulted her.

Police arrested Allen two days later after receiving a Crime Line tip he was staying at the Super 8 motel near Interstate 27.

During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors entered into evidence a video interview police conducted with Allen.

Allen admitted to investigators to robbing the store but said he “blacked out” during the sexual assault and was high on drugs at the time.

The interview ended with him bawling in front of investigators.

“I want to tell my baby I’m sorry,” he said in the video. It was not clear who he was talking about.

In court, Allen bowed his head as the video played.

Allen’s lawyer, Mark Skelton, argued his client wasn’t an evil person and didn’t deserve the maximum penalty for his crime.

Skelton argued his client wasn’t out to hurt anyone because the gun used in the robbery wasn’t loaded.

“He was a dumb kid that wanted some money,” he said.

Skelton argued his client was showing remorse when he gave his tearful confession to investigators.

He argued his client was acting under the influence of drugs.

He described his client as a dumb kid with a “real serious drug problem.”

“They have a real hard time quitting,” he said.

Prosecutor Sean Long said Allen knew what he was doing because he scouted two other stores the day of the robbery.

“It shows a lot of premeditation,” he said. “Clearly he was trying to get a feel of what type of businesses would be susceptible to him.”

Prosecutors called on witnesses who worked at businesses near the tobacco shop who said Allen also stalked their stores the day of the crime.

Andrea Valadez, who was working at the Damron Motorcycle Co. location on 34th Street, testified she called the police after Allen tried sneaking into the business; she said she saw him pacing around the lot that day.

She said he initially came in pretending he wanted to buy a car.

Julie Spraggens, a former employee at Little Red Nursery located a block west of Tobacco Express, said Allen came into her store that day asking for an employment application. He returned to the store twice and hung around the parking lot. She said he made her coworkers uncomfortable.

She said she approached Allen, who told her his grandmother was introducing him to gardening. She said usually customers new to gardening would inundate her with questions. She said he didn’t ask any questions nor did he buy anything from the store.

“That’s not normal behavior for people,” she added.

Spraggens said Allen left the premises, and an hour later, she heard sirens coming from the Tobacco Express.

According to an arrest warrant, Allen did the same scouting around at the smoke shop.

The clerk told investigators Allen entered the store earlier and asked about the price of ice cream. He left without buying anything. She said she noticed him hanging around the store for a long time and asked a customer to stay with her because she was afraid.

Long said Allen deserved the punishment Underwood meted.

“I think it was a just verdict based on the facts,” he said.

Long read to Allen a statement the victim handwrote, saying Allen’s actions still have a hold on her.

Allen listened with his head bowed.

“There’s a tear in my heart,” the victim wrote, adding she still has nightmares about the assault and she wakes up screaming. “In time, I will heal and forget.”

Allen will be in his 50s when he is eligible for parole, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice website.

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Would have been nice to read if these two life sentences are to be served concurrently or consecutively; life without parole I think is out since this is not a capital murder case. If the sentences are to be served concurrently, my understanding is he could be out in 15 years, although I doubt it. In the name of good journalism there is more info is needed on this.